Charlie {month 4}

Charlie turned 4 months way back on August 22nd.  August was a crazy month for us, and a big one for Charlie too.

4 month photoshoot - 13 lbs 3 oz (10%, yikes!)

We started off August with a road trip to Tahoe with Brian's extended family to celebrate his Aunt's 70th birthday.  We were pretty confident with the car ride after a successful trip to Sea Ranch the previous month, but this one didn't go so well for Charlie.  Both ways were really tough on him, and on all of us.  But our time in Tahoe was fun!  It was a gorgeous weekend and it was nice to catch up with the family and be able to celebrate such a big birthday together.

The whole gang in Tahoe

Family photo from Tahoe

The following weekend, Brian and I went to NYC and left both the kids with Bama, Brian's mom.  Brian had won a trip from work to go see Hamilton in NYC, it was a trip we couldn't turn down.  Leading up to it was a bit stressful since Charlie had only taken a bottle a few times and not easily.  In between Tahoe and NYC, I finally figured him out, got him on a predictable routine and, after months of trying, I somehow got him to take a pacifier.  I swear he knew what was coming and just gave in to make things easier.  I felt so much better about leaving him and I knew the bottle would work itself out, there wasn't another option. He wasn't going to starve himself.

Just about to see Hamilton!

playing tourist on the top of my office building

NYC was a huge success for us and for Charlie.  He was perfect for his Bama and she had no problems with the bottle!  Brian and I had a great weekend together.  It was so nice to not think about naps, snacks, diapers, or bedtime for a few nights.  We ate and drank well and really enjoyed ourselves.  Hamilton was amazing and definitely lives up to the hype.  We can't thank Bama enough for watching the kids all weekend while we played, it was such a treat.

The very end of August, we took a family vacation to Oregon.  We drove to Bend to visit some friends for a few days, then drove to Portland to visit my parents for a week. Since Charlie started taking a bottle, the drive was actually tolerable.  I honestly don't think we would have made it otherwise.  I have so many photos from the trip, I plan on doing another blog on it.

Charlie continues to be a really happy baby.  He smiles a lot, laughs a lot and is such a sweet boy.  He started drooling, so people keep asking if he is teething.  Sydney did the same thing and didn't get a tooth until 11 months, so I'm guessing I just make drooly babies.  He also really wants to move, he loves standing and if you hold him up, he will take steps.  I often make "Charlie Monster" walk over to Sydney and give her kisses, she thinks it's hilarious. We're hoping just like the drool coming way before the teeth, he doesn't start moving on his own too soon.

Charlie still is not a good sleeper, and it's driving me nuts!  I always tell people, we just thought we were really good parents because Sydney was such an awesome sleeper from the beginning, but turns out, she was just a really good baby.  I go back to work in October, so we are working on getting to a more consistent and better spot with sleep.  I never knew how mom's functioned with so many night wake ups, but now I am living it.

Here are the rest of my favorite photos from the month.

This was the t-shirt my parents gave my grandparents to
let them know they were pregnant with my sister

Still Charlie's happy place

Advanced parenting
This month doing nights alone with the kids became easier to handle

Siblings

Charlie loves his big sister

Cute boy

 

He love standing

Charlie always gets fussy when we eat because he feels left out down in his rocker
He is going to love sitting at the table with us in just a few short months

Chilly morning

This onesie has a tie on it, and I thought this photo was really
cute because it looks like he is adjusting his tie

Cousin Nate!  Future babysitter

6 of the 7 first cousins in Tahoe

Happy boy

One of his favorite toys

post bath zen like state

 

Happily reunited after our weekend in NYC

My little loves

Charlie's best buddy Nate, twinning in outfits and poses

He just won't stop moving

sneak peek of our road trip
Crater Lake

Whole family at Crater Lake

First time facing out in the carrier - he loved it

 

4 month photoshoot side by side

The months keep flying by and it's hard to believe how quickly Charlie is growing and how soon I'll be back at work.  I'm trying to enjoy every minute with him, except the minutes in the middle of the night.  Those I could do without.